I wrote about Kade McBurney and his family a few months ago and even though I never met him or his family their story has touched our hearts. It's with a sad heart today after reading the local papers that we found out Kade lost his battle with cancer on June 8th.

http://www.thenownewspaper.com/story.html?id=6788763

There is nothing like winding up my day with a cup of tea. My sweetner of choice has always been honey and the absolute best honey in the Valley can be purchased at the Honeybee Centre on Fraser Hwy and 176.

The honeybee centre is not only the best place to buy a variety of different types of honey, but they are also a local visitor's attraction. As well, I didn't realize that their main business is renting bee hives to help pollinate the many acres of blueberry and fruit fields here in the lower mainland.

Take a peak at their website to see the many different reasons why you should visit their country store.
http://www.honeybeecentre.com/

Happy Father's Day from all of us at the Bettina Reid Group to all the wonderful Dads in our lives. We hope it was a good one!

Very frustrated!!!

With having a new team member, I just purchased a whole lot of new signs. Only to find one already gone missing. In all honesty I have been quite shocked that these directional signs have lasted a couple weeks. But the reason for my frustration this time is that we noticed a homeowner mowing the boulevard and had pulled out the sign. Fair enough....we figured when they were done they would pop it back in the ground. Well that was not the case, it was never put back into the ground. If you do not like the sign on the boulevard by your home. No problem, I can appreciate that and would gladly remove it and place elsewhere or not at all. Give us a call and we will pick up the sign. But please do not throw the sign in the garbage.

That is exactly what this home owner did. I was furious, these directional signs cost us $30 a piece and they are not only a great source of marketing for us but they do what they are supposed to do and direct people to our clients properties that are for sale.

So, I ask you please the next time you aren't happy with a sign being near your home. Give us a call, we're home owners too and can appreciate it if you don't like the sign.

Tonight Kara, Anna and I had a lot of fun helping out Hillcrest elementary for their school's Fun Night! The children and community in general seemed to have a great time and hopefully they raised a lot of money for the school.

With it being a week away from the 1st day of spring, today was one of those days where as much as I love this province I would have much preferred the temperatures Ontarians have been enjoying....warm and sunny! As I write the temperatures there in the late evening is the same as our daily highs. Now don`t get me wrong the humidity can be unbearable at times, but that`s what air conditioning is for. :)

Fingers and toes crossed we actually get a summer this year, especially after such a miserable spring.

Mosquitoes seem to be coming out with the warmer, moist air and even though I haven`t been bit yet...I know it is only a matter of time. Although I am very thankful they do not seem to be as bad here as they can be in cottage country back in Ontario.

If summer ever arrives, campers will start to want to enjoy the great outdoors and mosquitoes definitely put a hamper on things. We love to take a stroll through Fort Langley but not being campers ourselves I didn`t realize that Fort Langley had such an issue with mosquitoes. So much so that they have decided to conduct aerial larvicide treatments. I had never heard of this being done before, again I come back to I learn something new eveyday. :)

http://www.langleytimes.com/news/158504655.html

You would have to think there should be some concern when using chemicals of any kind. Dragon flies have been known to help reduce the number of mosquitoes as they are one of the 2 main predators to mosquitoes.

I know I have been with a hockey fan for over 22 years now and still I look forward to the end of hockey season. Especially since moving to BC, because he never misses a Habs game with the majority of the games being on as he gets home from work. Then comes the playoffs, even if his team goes out he is a true hockey fan and will keep track and watch the games....

Kara, Anna and their families are big Canuck fans...but somehow I have just never developed a love for the game, much to my hubby`s disappointment neither have his girls.

So...Congrats to the L.A. Kings...but now I get to enjoy 114 days without hockey. Before the cycle starts all over again. :)

One of my favourite things in life is a HUG!

Growing up my grandmother always gave THE best hugs. They were all consuming, the big bear hug kind. If ever I was feeling down a hug from her alone could cheer me up! I still love my grandmother's hugs but even more a hug from my husband or daughters...there is just nothing better in the world than that. It's no wonder a hug can change my mood, because a hug causes the body to releases endorphins that make you feel good. Hugs truly can make a difference.

Which comes to the reason for today's blog...I came across an article about the Senior public (Middle school) that I went to back in Brampton, Ontario.  Earnscliffe Senior Public School and the mission 2 young girls have taken upon themsleves. The school has a no touching policy that was geared to inappropriate public displays of affection...between boys and girls and even more important Bullying. I cannot imagine anyone disagreeing with that policy...but it seems these girls have been getting in trouble at school for simple hugs. In a world where technology makes many of us so disconnected, it's beautiful to see kids hugging. I'm appalled that they aren't allowed to and wholly support their "hug-in" planned for June 20th, the girls way of protesting against the administration. I look forward to reading all about the hug-in.

To read the article in depth click the following link:

http://www.globalnews.ca/toronto-area+students+protest+alleged+ban+on+hugs/6442654726/story.html

A year ago on Twitter I started to follow Rita Chand, a Victoria woman that made it her mission to hug strangers everywhere she went and then this year in February proclaimed it "The Year of Hugging Fearlessly". She is hugging people all around the world. Click on the following link to read about how she changes lives everyday!

http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2012/02/13/victoria-woman-hugs-fearlessly-madly-deeply/

The young Brampton girls and Rita are such an inspiration!

I wanted to give one of my favourite shops a well deserved plug. I've mentioned the shop many times before, because I truly believe in promoting good businesses. Very proud to hear Sight for Sore Eyes has been awarded the 2011 Now Newspaper Reader’s Choice Award for Best Place for Eyewear in the Peninsula.

http://www.sightforsoreeyesoptical.ca/

If you haven't stopped by Rita's store on Five Corners in White Rock...you really must next time you need or want a new pair of glasses!

I broke 2 streaks this week, the 1st was not blogging everyday... :( (But I have a good excuse...I was fighting off strep throat, yuck!)

Finally I had a day where I felt pretty good and had promised to take my eldest to buy a new pair of soccer cleats. So we made our way across the border and had a pretty good mother/daughter day all in all...

All day I had been watching my speed staying within a couple miles of the speed limit and for whatever reason the one time I sped up....I look in my rear view mirror to see flashing lights. Of course, I change lanes not even thining it was for me. Oh, but it was...and that’s when I broke streak # 2, after almost 22 years of a clean driving record I got my 1st and hopefully my last speeding ticket ever. Of course, that is the time that my husband tries to give us a call, just when the officer is approaching our car. We did not answer his call, but needless to say my daughter...sweetheart that she is could not wait to call her Dad back and wanted to be the 1st to tell him what a bozo her Mom was.

So now I am left to endure not only having to pay a fine, (which should I go the online route, the officer said I could plea online and have it reduced or I can try to fight it in court) but now I will have both my daughter and hubby finding ways to crack jokes all weekend long... :)

If you decide to go across the border this weekend, the state troopers are out in force....drive careful and don’t say I didn’t warn you. :)

Did you know ladybugs aren't just pretty little insects? They actually help get rid of the aphids in your garden. As well as being considered Good Luck! It is thought that if you make a wish on a ladybug and it flies away on it's own the direction in which it flies will be where your good luck comes from. I didn't realize they were viewed as good luck across many different cultures....I truly believe we learn something new everyday! :)

Milner Gardens...one of my favourite places to pick up my spring and summer flowers! They have jars with 250-300 ladybugs for $9.99. If you bring in your used pots, flats and tags they will give you 10% off this Saturday June 2nd only!

http://www.milnergardens.ca/gardencentre-mail/2012_season/ladybugs.pdf